Man charged in pair of Jefferson Co. pharmacy robberies

A man who was caught breaking into a house is now charged with a pair of armed pharmacy robberies.

According to Dandridge Police Department Det. Lt. Lenny Lodwick, George Thomas Bryant, 21, of Knoxville, is charged with an October 15 attempted robbery at the Jefferson County Drug Store. He told the pharmacist he had a gun, but the pharmacist didn't believe him and refused to give him any pills. He fled without getting anything.

Lodwick says Bryant is also the suspect in another pharmacy robbery on October 2 in Jefferson City.

An off-duty officer caught Bryant attempting to break into a home in Jefferson County. He was arrested and taken to the Jefferson County jail. Charges are pending in that attempted burglary.

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A pharmacist in one local town apparently called a would-be robber's bluff.

Police say a man walked into the Jeff Co. Drug Store in Dandridge on Monday and slipped workers a note demanding pain pills. He even claimed to have a gun, but the pharmacists didn't buy that story and refused to hand over any pills.

The suspect took off without hurting anybody.

Police believe the same suspect could be connected to a pharmacy robbery earlier this month in Jefferson County.